The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Washington, DC, is pleased to announce the winners of its first Black History Month Art Contest, an initiative aimed at honoring the struggles of African Americans and Afro-Venezuelans.
First prize is awarded to Patricia Hickey of Virginia for her painting entitled “Corn Keeper,” an acrylic drawing of a woman tending to crops under a bright sun. Her piece evokes the enduring cultural, social and spiritual values of our Afro-descendant ancestors. For submitting the winning entry, Hickey will receive an iPod nano and a photo book about Venezuela and have her canvass displayed at the Bolivarian Hall, the cultural space of the diplomatic mission in Washington, DC.
Second prize goes to Howard Fleming of Washington, DC, for his watercolor painting, “Let My People Go,” which shows the faces of three Afro-descendant women on a warm background with a collage of newspaper headlines. Third prize goes to César Vazquez of Venezuela for his digital painting, “Pórtese Serio” (“Act serious”) which expresses his own colorful interpretation of the theme. These two pieces will also be on display at the Bolivarian Hall during the month of February.
The Embassy extends its heartfelt appreciation to all who participated in the contest for their dedication to the arts and the cause of social justice. The dozens of submissions received were evaluated according to their originality and creativity as well as relevance to the theme of promoting awareness about the advances and struggles of African Americans and Afro-Venezuelans.
Black History Month, which is celebrated each February in the United States, is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of African-Americans and the universal values of equality and justice. Similarly, in Venezuela, the month of May has been designated the Month of Afro-descendents, and May 10th is celebrated as Afro-Venezuelan Day.
Under the leadership of President Hugo Chávez, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has made strides toward combating the historical legacy of racism and recognizing the national importance of African heritage, promoting social inclusion and respect for Afro-Venezuelans. New initiatives in this area include a Law against Racial Discrimination which was passed last May.
